HAVAN PROCEDURE & THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

During a Havan, various rituals are performed successively in order to activate various energies and to also develop the right emotion to perform the Havan. Some of these rituals are common and must be observed before every Havan. After these rituals are performed, the main Havan would begin wherein the rituals differ depending on which deity you invoke. We bathe the deities and decorate them by applying tika (Vermilion powder) garland them, offer them food and allot them their place for the duration of the ceremonies. The common rituals for every Havan are as follows:

1. Havan Kund The shape of the Havan kund plays a very important role in generating energies to attract a particular deity. Different Havan kunds attract different deities when they are built in different shapes. Some of the common shapes are chaturakara (Square), Trikonakara (Triangle), chatkonakara (6 pointed star), Ardha chandrakara (semi circle), Vrittha kara (Circle). In addition to this many other shapes are also built.

2. Pavitra Dharanam & Prarthana At this time, the performer as well as the other persons who are participating in a Havan pray for the cleansing of their hearts and seek divine blessings of their ancestors and other divine beings. Having prayed thus, they wear a ring made of Darbha grass, which is known to repel negative energies, on the ring finger of their right hand.

3. Achamanam & Siromarjanam Specially made copper vessels called Panchapatras are kept filled with water. (During a Havan, iron or steel vessels are not used because of their low spiritual energies. Silver, copper, bronze, brass or clay is preferred). During Achamanam, water is taken to cleanse our body and mind and is followed by siromarjanam wherein the performers take water in the udraneeya and sprinkle water on their heads with their right thumb. The mantra chanted here means, ' whatever be the condition of my body, sacred or unsacred, by the very chanting of your divine names, I sanctify this body of mine in order to receive auspicious energies.'

4. SthalaShuddhi This is a ritual wherein the performer takes water unto his right palm and chants that, ' all the negative spirits who are trying to hinder our spiritual practices, immediately be gone and give way for the auspicious energies to enter our lives. Thereafter, the water is sprinkled all around to ward away these evil forces. Then the

performer takes a vessel filled preferably with turmeric water and chants mantras inviting higher beings and sages and simultaneously sprinkles the water with mango leaves or Darbha grass in all eight directions. Sthala shuddhi is a purificatory rite.

5. Mahaganapati Pooja In the ancient Hindu scriptures, the elephant headed deity, Ganesha, is always worshipped in the beginning of any ritual. With his blessings ensure that the whole procedure would move smoothly unhindered by any external obstacles at any stage. Ganesha is invoked into a conical figure made by mixing turmeric powder and water. Turmeric is considered very auspicious and is therefore used to represent the deity. Thereafter, a method of worship involving sixteen steps is performed to please him. All these steps are symbolical representations of the various forms of expressing reverence like offering the deity a golden throne to be seated, washing his feet, washing his hands, offering him water to drink, ceremonial bathing with sacred waters, offering new clothes, anointing him with sandal paste and other perfumes, adorning of jewels, worshipping with flowers, offering of fragrant incense, lighting the lamp, offering food, fruits and sweet drinks, chanting his praises, offering Arathi and finally seeking his blessings. This ritual is done to all the important deities in every Havan.

6. Kalasha Pooja This is a very important step in the Havan for it is here that we invoke the main deity of the Havan. If it is a

Gayatri Havan, Goddess Gayatri is invoked; in a sudarshana Havan, Sudarshana is invoked and so on. The deity is invoked and worshipped in the copper pot filled with water. A coconut is placed over the mouth of the pot and the coconut is surrounded by five or seven mango leaves. This is further decorated with flower garlands and a cloth is draped over it. It is placed at the North- Eastern corner of the Havan kund or the sacrificial fire. Shodashopachara Pooja is performed to the respective deities in the kalasha. Yet another significance of the copper pot is that it absorbs all the positive energies generated during the Havan and hence the divine water in the Kalasha is sprinkled upon and distributed to the participants at the end of the Havan. This water becomes charged with all the divine energies and has immense healing powers. Shodashopachara Pooja is performed to Sri Amma and Bhagavan seeking their blessings.

7. Agni Pratishtapanam, Dhyanam & Agni alankaranam Here, the sacrificial fire or Havan kund is sanctified by chanting mantras, before the fire deity, Agni is invoked. Sticks from select trees are only used for Havans. Mostly, the sticks of the Pipal tree are used. The sticks are burned in a vessel till it is red-hot and then from the southeastern corner they are poured into the kund over the pile of sticks and grass that are already placed inside. Then, amidst chantings, the performer gently blows the red-hot sticks and the fire rises up. Thereafter, ghee is offered and the participants meditate upon Agni. The success of a Havan very much depends upon how the participants relate to the fire because he serves as the medium between this mortal world and the other mystical worlds. After meditating on fire is done, the fire deity is decorated by placing flowers on the eight corners of the Havan kund, amidst chantings. Water is sprinkled on all the four sides of the kunda and thus Agni becomes ready to accept the offerings offered to him.

8. Sankalpam This is like the heart of the Havan. The entire Havan depends upon the the strong will of the participants. Each Havan is performed for a definite purpose and it is this purpose that the performer and participants clearly hold within their hearts as they take Sankalpa (strong will). The Sankalpa mantra itself is a very clear declaration stating that I am performing this particular Havan to invoke and please this deity under the guidance of Sri Kalki & Amma for this individual/family, who is/are born under this sign of the zodiac and ruled by this Nakshatra.

9. Pradhana Havan Pradhana Havan means 'the main part of Havan'. This is when the main mantra pertaining to the presiding deity is chanted 108 times continuously. Along with the chanting of the Moolamantra or the main mantra, various offerings like nine grains, medicinal herbs, dry fruits, rice cooked in ghee, cooked rice mixed with jaggery, silver flowers, gold flowers, black sesame seeds and various others are offered into the fire. The offerings are never the same and differ from Havan to Havan because each deity responds to a particular offering. All these details about the various offerings for various havans are already stated in the Indian scriptures and have been followed meticulously over the ages by people. The common offerings for every Havan are Sticks and ghee.

In the scientific sense, each of these offering generates energies or vibrations of a particular frequency and in that frequency, that particular deity becomes accessible. So one must not mistake that how can this food be transported via fire to the deity. It is the vibrations generated that help us communicate to the deities.

10. Jayadi Havan The name itself suggests that this Havan is for victory; for the success of all that we have done so far. During this procedure, mantras are chanted to appease the various forces of nature like wind, sun, moon, earth, rains, oceans, etc. The performer also expresses gratitude to all these forces of nature for it is with their cooperation that the Havan has been possible.

11. Purnahuti The name Purnahuti itself speaks, meaning "complete offering away of oneself". It is the offering of 9 types of grain, ghee etc. that you put into the fire, amidst the chanting of special mantras which according to the Vedas have got special vibrations to create a certain atmosphere or to grant your particular wish. The participants feel deep within their hearts as to how finally the blessing for what they seek must come from the divine. The aahuti used to be formerly brought by the neighbors and friends: it was mixed and offered to the fire by everyone present. All present would chant "Swaha" in unison after the priest has recited the particular chant. Swaha means, "we offer".

Putting Aahuti into the "fire kund" (Sacrificial Fire) is symbolic of putting our abilities into a field of activity in a spirit of dedication. Then you would leave the fruits to the higher power. If you have done the above in the right spirit then the power would most probably bless you by making your efforts a success. Externally, this feeling is symbolized by the final ahuti, which includes dry coconut, nine grains, nine gems, five metals (silver, gold, copper, zinc & brass), betel leaves, betel nuts, dry fruits, medicinal herbs, sandal wood sticks, saffron and other offerings wrapped up in a silk cloth. The color of the silk cloth again varies from Havan to Havan. For example for Gayatri, sudarshana, durga Havans, red color is used. For, vidya Havan, rudra Havan etc., it is white and for Kubera Havan, it is green and so on. This bundle of offerings is drenched in ghee amidst vedic chantings and then offered into the Havan kund. The offering of the Purnahuti marks the completion of the Havan. 12. Pradakshinam, Namaskaram & Prasthanam Thereafter, the performers and participants get up and go round the Havan kund (sacrificial fire) three times in the clockwise direction and prostrate before the Havan kunda. Thereafter Prasthanam is done which is the ceremonious send-off for all the higher beings and deities who have graced the Havan. Mantras expressing gratitude are chanted here and the deities are requested to return to their respective abodes. ^ Top ~~~~- -~~~~

A havan is based on the following principles:

Life is death. Death is life While making offerings in the fire, it is the death of the offering, which bears the fruit of the havan, which is life. Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed It can be changed from one form to another. The divine energy produced by chanting the mantras during the Havan is transformed to other forms of energy, which manifests miracles in the physical, psychological and spiritual realms. Microcosm is the macrocosm. Macrocosm is the microcosm. That is, whatever happens through our prayers and chants and visualizations in front of the agni (at a micro level) affects the lives of the people at the macro level, bringing upon the benediction prayed for. During the havans, through the visualization process creation takes place at the psychic level - the macrocosm. The vibration of the earth synchronizes with the vibration produced by chanting during the havan, which helps the nature and the planet earth. By sitting near the sacred fire, kundalini will be very active in the participants, which will help in praying effectively. The sacred fire activates the chakras by reviving the cosmic energy, which can affect our consciousness and produce miracles.

In the havans, by chanting, by praying and contemplation the consciousness level is heightened considerably. Then teachings are given based on the context of the specific problems and the participants undergo certain sadhanas, prayers and contemplation. Havans basically help the earth and hence substantial positive karma is acquired. It also helps the whole humanity and thereby contributes to World peace.